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These five checks are free, use official sites only, and take about an hour a year. Never pay a company to do them for you.
1. Check your credit reports
You can get free credit reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site. Look for accounts you don't recognize.
2. Read your Social Security statement
Create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov to check your earnings record and see estimates of your future benefits. Mistakes in your earnings record are easier to fix early.
3. File your taxes free if you qualify
IRS Free File lets many people file their federal return for free.
4. Search for unclaimed money
States hold money from old bank accounts, deposits and refunds. Search free through unclaimed.org, run by the state administrators' association. Never pay a "finder" to search for you.
5. Cancel subscriptions you don't use
Look through your last two card statements for repeating charges. Cancel what you don't use. Starting a free trial? Set a free reminder and we'll email you 2 days before it charges.